Automatic bell ringer



HAMM?? v `uly l0, 1923.

J. w. BuckLAND AUTOMATIC BELL RINGER File@ March 5. n'1921 a a Fig-. s; EE ES\E .5D

IIIll Patented July l0, 1923..

Lerares JOSEPH W. BUCKLAND, OF M'ONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC BELL RINGER.

K Application filed March 5, 1221. Serial No. 449,967.

To all lwhom t may concern Be it known that l, JOSEPH W. BUCK- LAND, of the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, a subject of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Bell Ringers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

l My invention relates particularly to locomotive bell ringers and has for its object to provide lan automaticy bell ringer which will prevent the bell at all times from turning completely over the construction being such ythat a progressively increasing resistance will be oifered to the movement of the bell when it approaches the end of its throw. Further objects of the invention areto provide a construction functioning in this way which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive. y

To this end my invention consists of the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated and pointed out in the claims.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts and wherein: y

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an automatic bell ringer constructed according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 illustrating the outer piston at the top of its stroke and the inner piston in the innermost position relatively to the outer piston;

Figure?) is a similar view to Figures 1 and 2 illustrating inner and outer pistons at the tops of their strokes; and

Figure e is a transverse sectional view taken'on line 4-11 Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary view of the operative connection between the inner and outer pistons and the crank-arm of the bel The drawings illustrate the preferred em-` ing in the` cap, are two pistons the outer piston 5 having a lcentral chamber extending from its upper end to within close proximity of its lower or inner end, said chamber containing the inner piston 6. The dimensions of these pistons are such that when their inner ends are respectively bearing upon the inner end of the cylinder and the inner end of the outer piston the opposite end ofthe piston 5 will be protruding beyond the cap 3 and the adjacent end of the piston 6 beyond the piston 5. The piston 6 is provided with a yoke at its upper end to straddle and is pivotally connected as at 8 to one end of a connecting link 9 the latter being constructed in two parts the one screwed within the other for purposes of adjustment. The opposite end of this link is pivotally connected to a wrist pin 10 upon a crank arm 12 the opposite end of which is rigidly mounted upon a trunnion 13 forming a part of the bell-supporting mechanism.

The pistons are adapted to be driven upwardly by the pressure medium. preferably air, which is admitted into the cylinder through an inlet port 14 in close proximity to the end of the latter the adjacent portion of the outer piston having a circumferential groove 15 4with the upper end of which the port 14 communicates when the piston V5 is'in its lowermost position. This groove 15 is adapted to at times communicate with an exhaust port 16 located diametrically opposite to the intake port and it accommodates a valvular ring 17 which is adapted to controlthese latter ports the shoulders 18 and 19 on the piston 5 being instrumental in altering the position of the ring. The extreme inner face of the piston 5 is machined off to present an annular groove 20 communication between which and the annular groove 15 is effected by passages 21. The relative arrangement of these ports and the shoulders 18 and 19 is such that when the piston is in its lowermost position. the shoulder 18 will be bearing upon the upper edge of the ring with the latter positioned below the intake port 14 and closing the exhaust port 16. This provides an open communication between the intake -port and the annular grooves 15 and 2O so that an admission of air forces the pistons upwardly.

As this movement of the pistons continues the shoulder 19 engages the lower edge of the ring and carries the latter upwardly with ituntil the exhaust port 16 is opened and the intake port closed, the air thereby being' exhausted.

ln order to positively limit the extent of upward movement ot the outer piston 5 the upper end ot the latter is reduced as at 22 to present a circumferential shoulder 23 which is adapted to abut against the cap 3 thel central opening in the latter being just sutlicient to acconnnodate such reduced end. The inner piston 6 is positioned within the louter piston with a piston tit and as already pointed out moves in unison with the latter; it is however capable ot axial movement relatively thereto. The function ot this inner piston in cooperating' with the outer piston is to offer a progressively increasiny' resistance to the movement of the bell as the ,latter approaches the end ot its throw and thereby preventing any jarring' or pounding of' the parts which might take place in a construction suddenly arresting movement by a rigid abutment for instance. To this end the inner piston is permitted to move axially relatively to the outer piston so that when the latter is arrested in its upper movement the inertia ol' the inner piston carries it upwardly thus causing a vacuum to be created in the lower end ot the chamloer containing' the inner piston. rThis vacuum offers a resistance to the continued movement ot the inner piston which progressively increases until the latter is stalled.

lIn order to provide means tor permitting' the discharge of any air which may have leaked into the vacuum chamber the outer piston at its lower or inner end is provided with an axial port Q-l controlled by a ballcheclr valve 25 yieldinvgly maintained in position closingthe port by a spring 26 the outer end of the port 241C being; of increased diameter to accommodate the ball and spring and being` adapted to receive a plug 27 closing the same'.

Under ordinary conditions and with proper relative proportions the vacuum created within the pistons will prevent the bell from turning' over, but to take care of instances where bells oit relatively light weight are used it is desirable that means be provided which while being` inactive under normal conditions will talre care ot any tendency ot the bell to turn over. To this end a notch 2S in the upper end ot the inner piston is extended longitudinally ot the latter to a point substantially midway its length and a pin 29 is mounted iu the upper end ot the outer piston in position extending' dia-metrically through the notch in the inner piston the pin serving'l to limit upward movement oit the inner piston relatively to the outer piston. One end ot this pin ei:- tends beyond the outer piston and is adapted'tobe locked by a cotter pin as at 30. ln

Operation.

ln the operation ol' my improved bellrine'er the air is admitted through intalre port lll and forces the outer piston upwardly and with it the inner piston. rlhe shoulder ,itl carries the ring 17 'with it to position closing; intake port lll and opening; exhaust 16 thereby allowing' the air to be exhausted. Almost simultaneously the shoulder 23 eu-A gages the cap 8 thus stalling' the outer piston. The inertia ot the inner piston carries it upwardly and as the check valve prevents the air entering' the vacuum chamber a suction is created therein which arrests further movement of the inner piston. lit. owing' to the employment oit hell which is too light in weight? this suction is not suihcient to positively arrest the piston in its movement, the lower end ot the notch 2S will engage pin 29. rllhe pistons under the weight et the bell will. now commence their downward stroke and air which may have leaked into the vacuum chamber is eifpelled through port Q/l. @n this down stroke the shoulder l@ on the outer piston will reposition the valve ring' 17 in its initial position closingthe exhaust port lo? the intale port lll being opened.

lllhat l claim is as follows:

l, ln an automatic bell-ringer the combination with a cylinder, a hollow piston mounted within said cylinder` a second piston slidahly mounted within the hollow piston and adapted to coact with the latter in creating a vacuum when moved relatively thereto in one direction, means operatively connecting one ot said pistons to the belh and means whereby said pistons are actuated.

2. ln an automatic bell-ringer the combination with a cylinder having' intake and exhaust ports and having' an opening; at one end, a hollow piston mounted within said cylinder, valvular means controlled by said piston and adapted to open and close said ports, a second pistou slidably mounted within said hollow piston and having one end protrudingthrough the open end ot said cylinder said second piston being;l adapted to coact with the first-mentioned piston in creating' a vacuum when moved outwardly relatively to the latter whereby such outward movement is retarded and means operatively connectingw the second piston tothe bell. y y

3.` ln an automatic bell-ringer the coinbination with a cylinder having intalre and exhaust ports and having an opening' at one end, a hollow piston mounted within said cylinder, valvular means controlled, lay

said piston and adapted to open and close said ports, a second piston slidably mounted within said hollow piston and having one end protruding through the open end ot said cylinder said second piston being adapted to coact with the first-mentioned piston in creating a vacuum when moved outwardly relatively to the latter whereby such upward movement is retarded, means operatively connecting the second piston to the bell, and

means retarding movement of the hollow piston towards such open end.

in an automatic bell-ringer the combination with a cylinder having intake and exhaust ports and an opening` in one end, a hollow piston mounted in said cylinder and having a reduced end protruding through said open end the circumferential shoulder produced by such reduced portion constituting an abutment retarding outward movement of' the piston. valvular means encircling said piston and controlling said ports, a second piston slidably mounted within said hollow piston and having one end protruding from the protruding` end of the latter, said pistons being adapted to coact in creating a vacuum when the second piston is moved outwardly relatively to the hollow piston for the purpose of retarding such outward movement.

5. in an automatic bell ringer the combination with a cylinder having intake and exhaust ports and an opening in one end, a hollow piston mounted in said cylinder and having a reduced end protruding through said open end the circumferential shoulder produced by such reduced portion constituting an abutment retarding outward movement of the piston` valvular means encircling said piston and controlling said ports, a second piston slidably mountedy within said hollow piston and having one end protruding from the protruding end oi the latter, said pistons being adapted to coact in creating a vacuum when the second piston is moved outwardly relatively to the hollow piston for the purpose of retarding such outward movement, and means eiiecting an operative connection between said pistons adapted to prevent complete loutward displacement of thel second piston.

(i. In an automatic bell ringer the combination with a cylinder having intake and exhaust ports and an opening in one end, a hollow piston mounted within said cylinder, valvular ine-ans controlling said ports7 a second piston having a transverse slot therein and being slidably mounted in said hist-mentioned piston and having one end protruding through said opening said pistons being adapted to coact in creating a vacuum when the second. piston is moved outwardly relatively to the first mentioned piston whereby such outward movement is retarded and means preventing complete outward displacement ot the second piston from the first piston, said means consisting of a transverse pin mounted upon said firstmentioned piston and extending through a slot in the second piston.

7. in an automatic bell-ringer the combination with a cylinder having intake and exhaust ports therein, a piston chambered from one end to within close proximity of its opposite endv` a check valve controlling said port7 valvular means controlling said intake and exhaust ports7 a second piston slidably mounted within the chamber in said iirst-piston and snugly fitting the same said piston being adapted to create a vacuum within said chamber when the second piston is moved outwardly relatively to the first piston for the purpose of retarding said outward movement and means operatively connecting the second piston to the bell.

8. in an automatic bell-ringer the combination with a cylinder having an Open end and intake and exhaust ports adjacent the opposite end thereof, a cap rigidly mounted upon said cylinder and closing said open end, said cap having a central opening thereiin a piston slidably mounted within said cylinder and having a reduced end protruding outwardly through the opening in cap the shoulder presented by such reduced portion being adapted to engage said cap for the purpose of limiting outward movement of said piston the opposite end of said piston having a circumferentiahporh a valvular ring encircling said piston within the space presented by said port and adapted to control the intake and exhaust ports such ring being shifted to and from positions controlling said ports by the piston said piston being chambered from its outer end to a point in close proximity to its inne-r end7 al check valve con trolling said port, a second piston slidably mounted within said chamber with one end protruding therefrom said second-piston having` a slot extending transversely therethrough said pistons being adapted to coact in creating a vacuum in said chamber when the second piston moved outwardly relatively to the first piston for the purpose of retarding such outward movement means for preventing complete displacement of the inner piston from the outer piston said last mentioned means consisting of a pin mounted upon said lirst piston and extending through the slot in said second piston, and means operatively connecting the second piston to the bell.

in testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JQSEPH W. BUCKLAND.

Witnesses:

GORDON 0. Coonn, WILLIAM J. C. Hnwnrsoiv. 

